Dural arteriovenous fistulas are abnormal connections between an artery and the tough covering over the brain or spinal cord (dura) and a draining vein. Abnormal passageways between arteries and veins (arteriovenous fistulas) may occur in the brain, spinal cord or other areas of your body.

Experience. Every year, Mayo Clinic doctors evaluate and treat an average of 2,000 people who have dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), brain and nerve surgery (neurosurgeons), and brain imaging (neuroradiologists) work together to treat your condition.

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Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons), brain imaging (neuroradiologists), and other areas work together to treat dural arteriovenous fistulas and other neurological conditions.

Mayo Clinic doctors will work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment for your condition.

Endovascular procedures. In an endovascular procedure, your doctor may insert a long, thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in your leg or groin and thread it through blood vessels to the dural arteriovenous fistula using X-ray imaging.

Your doctor inserts the catheter into the blood vessel that leads to the dural arteriovenous fistula and releases coils or a glue-like substance to block the abnormal connection in the blood vessels.

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 800-446-2279 (toll-free) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday or complete an online appointment request form.

Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons), and other areas study clinical and laboratory research related to prevention, causes, diagnosis and treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas and other neurological conditions.

Mayo Clinic doctors and surgeons also study minimally invasive techniques in dural arteriovenous fistula surgery. Read more about research in neurology and neurosurgery.

See a list of publications by Mayo doctors on dural arteriovenous fistulas on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

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